Introduction of Shan Dou Gen:Subprostrate Sophora Root or Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Subprostrate Sophora Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., ②.Menispermum dauricum DC., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Subprostrate Sophora Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Shān Dòu Gēn.
English Name: Subprostrate Sophora Root.
Latin Name: Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis.
Property and flavor: cold, bitter, toxic.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis is the dried root and rhizome of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., used for the treatment of sore throat and gingivitis. The herb is commonly known as Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, vietnamese Sophora Root, Shān Dòu Gēn.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis as the dried root and rhizome of (1). Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep.(Sophora Genus, Leguminosae family, Rosales order.),(2). Menispermum dauricum DC.(Menispermum genus, Menispermaceae family, Ranales order.). These 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep.
Botanical description: Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep is also known as Sophora sudprostrata Chun et T.Chen., or Róu Zhī Huái, Soft-Branch Sophora, Guǎng Dòu Gēn. An undershrub, the plant grows up to 1~2 meter tall. Roots are cylindrical, rarely branched, and root bark is tawny (yellow brown). The stem is upright or decumbent, branches are few, densely covered with pubescence. Imparipinnate compound leaves, alternate; petioles are 5~17 cm long; 11~21 lobules (foliole), elliptic or oblong-ovate, 1~2.5 cm long, 0.5~1.5 cm wide, lobules on top end are larger, the apex is sharp-pointed or mucronate, the base is rounded, entire, the upper surface is sparsely pubescent, and the undersurface is densely covered with taupe brown (grayish-brown) pubescence.
Racemes are apical, 12~15 cm long, densely covered with pubescence; small pedicel is about 1 cm long, covered with fuzz; the calyx is broadly campanulate (wide bell-shaped), outside is covered with sparse hairs, the apex is 5-lobed; corolla is yellowish-white, vexilla are ovoid, the apex is concave, the base has short claws, the aliform stem is longer than vexilla, the base has triangular ear; 10 stamens, free, the base is slightly wide and oblate; the ovary has a stalk, cylindrical, densely covered with long pilose, style is curved, stigma is circular, with long pilose.
Pods (legumes) are 2~5 cm long, densely covered with long pilose, and seeds are bead-like. Seeds are in 3~5 grains, black, glossy, elliptic, hilum is small. Its flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from July to August.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in hilly areas and mountainous regions, in cracks in the rock, and in areas at altitudes of 900~1,100 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang river area, and southwest areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Sophora tonkinensis is not strict to climate and soil, but it is better to grow in a warm environment, in loose and fertile soil.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome of the herb is irregularly tuberous and extends transversely, and the apex often has a residual stem base or stem trace, several roots insert under it. The roots are long cylindrical, sometimes branched, slightly curved, different in lengths, and 0.7~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to dark brown (black brown), with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and protuberant elongated lenticels. The texture of the herb is firm and hard, difficult to break, the fracture surface is slightly flat, the cortex is pale yellowish-brown, and the xylem (wood part) is primrose yellow (pale yellow). The herb has a slight beany flavor, and it tastes very bitter. The herb of a better grade is in thick strips, and the surface is tan (chocolate brown), the texture is firm, and the herb tastes bitter.
Pharmacological actions: ①.anti-cancer effect; ②.inhibit delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction; ③.increase myocardial contractility and coronary flow significantly; ④.enhance the peripheral leukocytes of rabbits; ⑤.anti-inflammatory, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: Clear heat and detoxify, relieve sore throat, detumescence (reduce swelling), relaxing the bowels. It is indicated for fire poison accumulation, sore throat and swelling, acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, gingivitis, lung heat and cough, dampness-heat jaundice, carbuncle swelling, constipation, etc.
Administration of Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis (Shān Dòu Gēn):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis (Shān Dòu Gēn)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:3~6 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 3~5 qian (about 9~15 grams),or extract juice.Externally:mouthwash or mashed and apply stick.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: should avoid using the herb in conditions diarrhea due to deficiency coldness in spleen and stomach.
(2).Menispermum dauricum DC.
Botanical description: Menispermum dauricum DC is commonly known as Biān Fú Gé (means Bat-shape vine). A perennial voluble herb, the plant grows over 10 meters long. The rhizome is thin and long, decumbent, yellowish-brown, or dark brown (black brown), with branches. Branchlets (twigs) are green, with fine longitudinal striations. Leaves are alternate; rounded reniform or ovoid, edge is shallowly 3~7-lobed, lobes are subtriangular, length and width are 5~15 cm, apex is pointed, the base is cordate or truncate, the upper surface is green, the undersurface is pale-white, 5~7 palmate veins; petioles are scutiform (shield-like) and inserted, 6~15 cm long.
Short panicles are axillary, peduncles are 3~7 cm long; flowers are small, yellowish-green, have bracteoles; unisexual and dioecious; the male flower has 6 or 8 sepals, obovate; 6~9 flower petals, smaller than sepals; 10~20 stamens; the female flower has 3 carpels, free.
Drupes (drupe fruits) are oblate sphere, 8~10 mm in diameter, turns murrey (black purple), endocarp is firm and hard, reniform oblate, with circinal (ring-like) protuberant sculptures. Its flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from July to September.
Ecological environment: The plant grows on forest edges on hillsides or mountain slopes, bushes, field edges, roadsides, and gravel bottomland, or climbing on rock. The plant is distributed in most areas of China, mainly in the northern and west-north areas.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers a warm and cool environment and is most suitable for growth at 25~30 °C (Celsius, or 77~86 degrees Fahrenheit). Growth stagnates at 5 °C (Celsius, or 41 degrees Fahrenheit). Soil requirements are not strict, but deep soil layers, loam under the slope, or sandy loam with good drainage is appropriate.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome of the herb is thin cylindrical, and slightly curved, with branches, 30~50 cm long, and 3~8 mm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown to brown, with longitudinal wrinkles, thin and long fibrous roots, or raised fibrous root traces, the bark is extremely easy to fall off. The texture of the herb is flexible and uneasy to break, and the fracture surface is orderless and fibrous, the xylem (wood part) is primrose yellow (pale yellow), and there is pith in the center. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter. The herb of a better grade is in thick strips, the out bark is yellowish-brown, and the fracture surface is light yellow.
Rhizoma Menispermi(Asiatic Moonseed Rhizome).
Brief Introduction: The Herb Rhizoma Menispermi is the dried rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC., used in a similar way to Vietnamese sophora root.
✵Common herbal classics defined the herb Rhizoma Menispermi (Asiatic Moonseed Rhizome) as the dried rhizome of (1). Menispermum dahuricum DC. (Menispermum genus, Menispermaceae family, Ranales order.). It is commonly known as Běi Dòu Gēn. This commonly used species is introduced in the above entry under title "Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis".
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1.Introduction of Shan Dou Gen:Subprostrate Sophora Root or Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Subprostrate Sophora Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., ②.Menispermum dauricum DC., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Subprostrate Sophora Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Shān Dòu Gēn.
Botanical description: Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep is also known as Sophora sudprostrata Chun et T.Chen., or Róu Zhī Huái, Soft-Branch Sophora, Guǎng Dòu Gēn. An undershrub, the plant grows up to 1~2 meter tall. Roots are cylindrical, rarely branched, and root bark is tawny (yellow brown). The stem is upright or decumbent, branches are few, densely covered with pubescence. Imparipinnate compound leaves, alternate; petioles are 5~17 cm long; 11~21 lobules (foliole), elliptic or oblong-ovate, 1~2.5 cm long, 0.5~1.5 cm wide, lobules on top end are larger, the apex is sharp-pointed or mucronate, the base is rounded, entire, the upper surface is sparsely pubescent, and the undersurface is densely covered with taupe brown (grayish-brown) pubescence.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in hilly areas and mountainous regions, in cracks in the rock, and in areas at altitudes of 900~1,100 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang river area, and southwest areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The rhizome of the herb is irregularly tuberous and extends transversely, and the apex often has a residual stem base or stem trace, several roots insert under it. The roots are long cylindrical, sometimes branched, slightly curved, different in lengths, and 0.7~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to dark brown (black brown), with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and protuberant elongated lenticels. The texture of the herb is firm and hard, difficult to break, the fracture surface is slightly flat, the cortex is pale yellowish-brown, and the xylem (wood part) is primrose yellow (pale yellow). The herb has a slight beany flavor, and it tastes very bitter. The herb of a better grade is in thick strips, and the surface is tan (chocolate brown), the texture is firm, and the herb tastes bitter.
Botanical description: Menispermum dauricum DC is commonly known as Biān Fú Gé (means Bat-shape vine). A perennial voluble herb, the plant grows over 10 meters long. The rhizome is thin and long, decumbent, yellowish-brown, or dark brown (black brown), with branches. Branchlets (twigs) are green, with fine longitudinal striations. Leaves are alternate; rounded reniform or ovoid, edge is shallowly 3~7-lobed, lobes are subtriangular, length and width are 5~15 cm, apex is pointed, the base is cordate or truncate, the upper surface is green, the undersurface is pale-white, 5~7 palmate veins; petioles are scutiform (shield-like) and inserted, 6~15 cm long.
Short panicles are axillary, peduncles are 3~7 cm long; flowers are small, yellowish-green, have bracteoles; unisexual and dioecious; the male flower has 6 or 8 sepals, obovate; 6~9 flower petals, smaller than sepals; 10~20 stamens; the female flower has 3 carpels, free.
Ecological environment: The plant grows on forest edges on hillsides or mountain slopes, bushes, field edges, roadsides, and gravel bottomland, or climbing on rock. The plant is distributed in most areas of China, mainly in the northern and west-north areas.
Brief Introduction: The Herb Rhizoma Menispermi is the dried rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC., used in a similar way to Vietnamese sophora root.
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